Radio tube and socket structure



July 2,1940. L .L WO'ODS A2,206,798

RADIO TUBE AND SOCKET STRUCTURE` Filed April 18, 19384 Patented `iuly 2*,y 1940 RADIO TUBE ANDSOCKET STRUCTURE Leslie J. woods, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pennsylvania Patents,

Inc.,l Carson City, Nev.,

' Nevada a corporation of Application April 18, 1933, Serial No. 202,781 9 Claims. `(lill. Z50-27.5)

This invention relates to radio tube sockets and, more particularly, to a socket structure employing novel means for supporting a radio tube and for holding the socket "parts together in assembled relation.

One object of the invention is to provide in a socket structure a novel device for holding or anchoring a radio tube in cooperative relation with the socket and for insuring proper posi- 10 tioning of the tube relative to the socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which firmly engages and is interlockable with a pin cari-led by the tube base, thus insuring flrm mechanical support of the tube and also permitting the use of the pin and holding device as electrical elements.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a novel holding device of the. stated character which functions additionally to secure the parts of the socket structure together in proper assembled relation.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a socket in which certain contact elements are electrostatically shielded from other elements,

thus minimizing the capacitive coupling between l said contacts.

The invention may be fully understood from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein 3o Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the socket with a tube in cooperative relation therewith;

Fig. 2 isa plan view of the socket; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the tube removedfrom the socket and illustrating more clearly the interlocking feature; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and y Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the holding member or device provided by the invention.

Referring tothe several views of the drawing, the socket structure comprises a socket base preferably formed by a pair of superposed insulating plates I and 2 which may be formed of any suitable insulating material, for example, resin-impregnated fibrous material. These plates serve to support the contact elements 3, the plate I serving as a base or mounting plate,- while the plate 2` serves as a cover or clamping plate. While any suitable form of electrical contact element may be employed, the contact elements 3 preferably take the form of those disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Loy E. Barton, Serial No. 202,782, nled April 18, 1938. It will be noted particularly from Fig. 6 that each of these contact elements comprises a bent metallic strip extending loely through an Vopening 4 in the plate I and extending radially 5 inward between the plates, and terminating in a prong-receiving portion 5 disposed transversely oi the aligned openings 6 and ll, which are provided 'in the respective plates I and 2 for the reception of a tube prong. 'I'he tube base 8 car- 10 ries prongs 9 for engagement with the contact elements 3.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided centrally of the socket structure a holding member or device ID, and there is also l5 provided centrally of the tube base an extending pin II for cooperative engagement with the device IIl. 'I'he pin II is of substantial diameter and length, as shown rin Fig. 4, and at its lower end, it is provided with a circumferential recess 20 I2, the purpose of which will appear presently. While the pin Il may be formed of any suitable material, it is preferably formed of metal to perf mit its use as an additional terminal or connector member, as mentioned further hereinafter. 25

The device I0 is preferably formed from a single piece of resilient sheet metal by stamping a suitable blank from lthe metallic sheet land then bending or pressing the blank tothe shape and form illustrated in Fig. 7. The complete device 30 comprises a cylindrical portion I 3 having a crimp flange I5 spaced from the end thereof, and having depending resilient lingers I6. There is also provided longitudinally of the rdevice a pressedout portion I'l forming an internal longitudinal 35 recess I8, the purpose of which will be apparent presently. Preferably, the pressed-out portion I1 is located diametrically opposite the longitudinal slit I 9 resulting from the bending of the metal piece to the cylindrical form. 'I'here is also 40 preferably provided a terminal lug extension 20 at the lower end of the pressed-out portion Il.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cylindrical portion I3 extends through alignedcentral openings in the plates I and 2 with the crimp flange I5 45 engaging the lower face of plate I, While an end flange I4 engages the upperface of plate 2. Between the plates and surrounding the cylindrical portion I3, there is provided a spacing washer- 2l which separates the plates sufliciently to ac- 50 commodate the'contact` elements 3 and permit movementthereof parallel to the plates. The end flange I4 is turned over after the several parts are assembled. Thus, the upper portion of the holding device I 0 secures the parts of the 55 socket structure in assembled relation and takes the place of the rivet or rivets vwhich have been used for this purpose in the past. The central apertures in the plates l and 2 through which the device I extends are provided with recesses to accommodate the pressed-out portion l', thuslocking the device against rotation.

The recess i8 serves as a keyway for the longitudinal rib or key 22 provided on the pin il, thus insuring proper positioning of the tube relative to the socket when the tube is inserted. Thus, the device i0 serves additionally as a positioning member for the tube. Consequently, the tube prongs and the prong-receiving holes and contact elements of the socket may be equally spaced, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

At their lower ends, the resilient fingers i6 are pressed inwardly, as at 23, thus forming collectively an annular detent means adapted to seat in the recess l2 of pin ll, as indicated in Fig. 4. That is to say, when the tube is fully inserted in the socket, the inwardly-bent end portions of the iingers i6 are seated in the recess l2 and thus interlock the pin Il and the holding device IB. Additionally, there is provided an annular spring 26 in the form of a split resilient ring which is seated in the annular recess -formed by the bending inward of the iingers i6. This spring resiliently resists outward movement of the fingers I6 and maintains the detent portions of the fingers in the recess or groove l2. There is thus provided a very strong mechanical interlocking of the tube with the socket structure whiclrmaintains the tube lin proper relation with the socket.

It is, of course, now common practice to ship radio sets complete with tubes, and similar conditions obtain in automobile radio receivers. To avoid the necessity of maintaining the sets so that the tubes are in upright position in transitu and hence will not fall out, it is desirable that the tubes be firmly held in their sockets. The interlock of the present invention requires a very strong direct pull to disengage the tube from its socket, and tests have shown that extreme'jerks will not remove the tube even when itis weighted". Hence the tube may be safely shipped in its socket without danger of its falling out. On the other hand, it is necessary, on occasion, to remove tubes for replacement and test purposes. In accordance with the present invention the tube may be removed from its socket by levering it out. To this end the tube base 8 is provided with an annular rim 25 which may beused as a pivot or fulcrum. Hence to remove the tube from the socket the top of the tube is pushed transversely of the socket thus rocking the tube about the fulcrum 25. As the leverage thus eiected is of the order of six to one, the tube member l2 is thus withdrawn from the grip of the ngers I6 and after that the tube can easily be lifted out. To assist in locating the tube in the socket by indexing the key 22 with the channel I8, a small dimple 26 may be radially aligned with key 22 on the outer rim of the tube base 8.

The base member 8 of the tube is preferably of metal and in combination with the holding member l0 forms an electrostatic shield between the various contact pins'. It is highly desirable that the capacity between various elements of the tube, for example the grid and plate, and the electrical connections to these elements, be minimized as far as possible. By grounding the holding member I0 and using diametrically opposite contacts for the critical elements, the capacity between these elements may be minimized. to such an extent that both the grid and plate leads of the tube of such critical devices as radio frequency amplifiers may be brought out at the bottom of the tube without employing neutralizing circuits. The shielding thus afforded by the holding member i0 may be augmented by grounding some of the other contacts for radio frequency currents. Additionally the contact pins 9 should preferably be as short as possible. Electrical connections to the holding member I0 may be madeby means of the terminal lug 20.

The holding device provided by this invention, as above described, permits the use of smaller prongs on. the tube, since the prongs are not required to function as mechanical supports, and also permits the use of prong-receiving elements on t'ne socket which are required only to make good electrical contact with the prongs. The tube prongs may be smaller in diameter and shorter in length than those used heretofore and, by reason of the short length of the prongs, they may be protected against injury by the pin Il and the tube base. This may be seen from Fig. 4, in which it will be noted that the prongs S are of such short length that they are within the protected area defined by the cone formed by the end of the member Il and the tube base 8. Hence there is little chance of them striking any surface.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a novel multi-function holding device in a radio tube socket having the several advantages above set forth. While a single preferred embodiment of the invention las been illustrated and described, it Will be obvious that various modifications, particularly in the details of the structure, may be resorted to without departing from the invention.

I claim: i

1. A radio tube and socket structure, comprising a tube base having contact prongs extending therefrom, a mounting and aligning pin extending from Said base and having a circumferential recess and a longitudinal key, a socket base, contact elements carried by said socket base for electrical engagement with said prongs, and a holding and supporting member carried by said socket base and having annularly arranged resilient fingers for receiving and supporting said pin, one of said ngers being recessed longitudinally to provide a keywayfor said key, the other fingers resiliently gripping said pin and having inwardly bent portions forming annular detent means to interlockingly engage said circumferential recess.

2. A radio tube and socket structure, comprising a tube base having contact prongs extending therefrom, a mounting and aligning pin extending from said base, a socket base, contact elements carried -by said socket base for electrical engagement with said prongs. means for support- 60 ing said tube in said socket and for preventing direct withdrawal therefrom, comprising a resilient holding member carried by said socket base for receiving said pin, said member having a flange extendingA above said base, annular detent 65 means on said pin and said member for interlockingly engaging said pin with said member, and preventing direct withdrawal of the pin, and means for unlocking said detent means by transverse movement of the top of the tube comprising 7( a peripheral rim on the base of said tube for forming a fulcrum on which Vthe tube may be rocked to unlock the detent means.

3. 1n-a radio tube and socket structure, a tube basehaving a substantial rigid support pin and 7 relatively non-rigid contact prongs projecting therefrom. and a socket cooperating with said base, said socket comprising superposed thin plates having apertures for said pin and said prongs and carrying a hollow tube-like supporting member ilxedly positioned in the aperture for said pin. and resilient contacts loosely held said plates in alignment with the apertures for said prongs. said member having a tubular portion adapted to snugly engage said pin and a portion comprising annularly arranged longitudinal fingers adapted to resiliently engage said pin, whereby said pin and said member substantially entirely support said tube in said socket.

4. In a radio tube and socket structure, a tube base, contact prongs of small diameter andlength carried by said base. a socket base, contact elements on said socket base for receiving said prongs, the prongs and associated contact elements making good electrical contact but being incapable of furnishing mechanical support for the tube. and means for supporting and securing the tube on the socket base and preventing lateral movement of the tube, said means comprising a cylindrical center pin on said tube base of relatively large diameter and of relatively great length, and a hollow cylindrical member on said 4socket base constructed and arranged to snugly engage said pin over substantially its entire cylindrical surface throughout substantially the entire length of the pin.

5. In a radio tube and socket structure, the combination with a tube base and a socket base carrying contact elements adapted to make good electrical contact but incapable of mechanically supporting the tube on the socket base, oi' means for supporting and securing the tube on the socket base and preventing lateral movement of the tube, said means comprising a cylindrical center pin on said tube base of relatively large diameter and of relatively great length. a hollow cylindrical member on said socket base constructed and arranged to snugly engage said pin over substantially its entire cylindrical surface throughout substantially the entire length of the pin, and cooperating interlockable detent portions at the lower ends of said pin and said member.

6. A radio tube and socket structure, comprising a tube base and contact prongs carried thereby, a multi-part socket base and prong-receiving contacts carried thereby. and means for securing the parts of the socket base together and for holding the tube firmly on the socket base, said means comprising a cylindrical center pin on said tube base of relatively large diameter and of relatively great length, a hollow cylindrical member on said socket base constructed and arranged to snugly engage said pin over substantially its entire cylindrical surface throughout 3 substantially the entire length of the pin, a flange at the upper end of said member and a crimp ange intermediate the ends of said member for engaging opposite faces of the multi-part Socket base, a circumferential recess at the lower end of said pin. a plurality of depending resilient ilngers on said member having their lower ends indented to interlockingly engage said recess, and a spring member surrounding the indented ends of said fingers.

7. A radio tube and socket structure, comprising a tube base having contact prongs extending therefrom. a mounting and aligning pin extending from saidbase and having an annular recess, a socket base,` contact elements carried by said socket base for electrical engagement with said prongs, means for supporting said tube in said socket and for preventing direct withdrawal therefrom. comprising a resilient holding member carried by said socket base for receiving said pin. said member having a flange extending 4 above said base and resilient indented ngers extending below said base with a spring member surrounding the indented fingers for interlocking engagement with the recess of said pin and preventing direct withdrawal of the pin, and means for unlocking the interlocked pin and holding member by transverse movement of the top oi' the tube comprising a peripheral rim on the base'of said tube for forming a fulcrum on which the tube may be rocked to unlock the pin and holding member.

8. In a radio tube and socket structure, the combination with a tube base and a socket base carrying contact elements adapted to make good electrical contact but incapable of eillciently supporting the tube on the socket base, of means for eiliciently supporting and securing the tube on the socket base, said means comprising a rigid pin on said tube base, a hollow pin-receiving member on said socket base having re aillent ngers arranged to grip said pin, and cooperating interlockable detent portions on said pin and said member to secure the tube firmly on the socket base.

'9. In a radio tube and socket structure, the combination with a tube base and a socket base carrying contact elements adapted 'to make good electrical contact but incapable of efilciently supporting the tube on the socket base, of means for eillciently supporting and securing the tube on the socket base, said means comprising a rigid pin on said tube base, a hollow pin-receiving member on said socket base having a resilient portion extending below the socket base and adapted to grip said pin, and cooperating interlockable detent portions on said pin `and said member to secure the tube rmly on the socket base.

LESLIE J. WOODS. 

